Ridable hobby horse



RIDABLE HOBBY HORSE Filed June 5, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 1.

Hrry W. Pamrsan IN1/EN TOR.

I uw BY www United States Patent O RIDABLE HOBBY HORSE Harry W. Patterson, Eastvale, Pa. Application June 6, 1955, Serial No. 513,329

3 Claims. (Cl. 2801.202)

This invention generally relates to a riding device for children, and more specifically provides a mechanical hobby horse which is operated in the nature of a tricycle but which simulates the actions of a horse, thereby providing a novel riding device for children.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical hobby horse that simulates the shape of a horse and is provided with supporting and guiding wheels which is propelled by the occupant of the device and which simulates the action of a horse.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hobby horse in conformance with the preceding object in which pairs of forward and rear legs are provided on the device and are so connected to the actuating and supporting mechanism thereof that the legs will oscillate substantially in the nature of the legs of a horse.

Other important objects of the present invention will reside in its simplicity of construction, novelty in appearance and operation, ruggedness of construction, adaptation for its purposes and its relatively inexpensive manuacturing costs.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become lsubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the hobby horse of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 2 2 of Figure 1 illustrating the supporting, propelling and guide wheels together with the association of the pedals therewith and the eccentric or oifset end portions of the front and rear axles;

Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical sectional View taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3 3 of Figure 1 illustrating the construction of the rear supporting wheels and the leg members attached thereto; and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4-4 of Figure l illustrating the construction of the front supporting members and the simulated legs attached thereto.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, it will be seen that the numeral generally designates the hobby horse of the present invention. The hobby horse 10 generally includes a body member 12 having a saddle 14 thereon together with a simulated head 16, bridle 18 and reins 20 which forms a handle 22 for the person occupying the seat or saddle 14 thereby permitting accurate control of the hobby horse 10.

The body 12 is generally hollow and provided with longitudinal structural members 24 which are spaced from each other and covered with a suitable covering 26 which may be of plastic or any other suitable material which may be decorated with any suitable color for more closely simulating a horse and providing a relatively simple and inexpensive manufacture. Openings 28 are provided adjacent the front of the body 12 and openings 30 are provided adjacent the rear thereof for a purpose described hereinafter.

Referring now specically to Figure 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that an inverted U-shaped bracket 32 has its bight portion 34 secured to a transverse rib member 36 by utilizing suitable fastening bolts 38. The legs 40 depend from the bight portion 34 and. terminate in a tubular sleeve 42. The tubular sleeve 42 journals a transverse axle 44 therein which has a pair of support wheels 46 mounted thereon adjacent each endl of the tubular sleeve 42. An upwardly and forwardly inclined brace member 48 extends from the tubular sleeve 42 forwardly to be attached to the body 12 by any suitable means.

The outer ends of the axle 44 are olset, as designated by the numeral 50, and provided with end caps 52. A pair of elongated leg members 54 are provided with apertures 56 in the lower end thereof for positioning over the offset portion 50 of the axle 44. A suitable washer 58 and Cotter pin 60 is provided for securing each of the leg members pivotally or rotatably to the offset portion 50 of the axle 44 whereby rotation of the axle 44 will cause movement of the lower end of leg members 54. The upper end of the leg members 54 is provided with an inwardly extending bolt 62 which projects through an elongated vertical slot 64 in each of the longitudinal ribs 24 and terminates in a headed end 66 whereby the leg members 54 will move vertically upwardly and also pivot in relation to the longitudinal ribs 24 thereby simulating the action of a horses leg during walking movement. As long as the axle 44 rotates, the offset portions 50 will cause movement of the leg members 54.

Referring now specifically to Figure 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that a pair of bearing rings 68 are supported between upper and lower edges of the longitudinal frame members 24. Each of the bearing rings 68 is provided with oppositely disposed laterally extending threaded studs 70 extending into the frame members 24 and provided with a lock nut 72 to permit the bearing members 5S to be laterally adjusted, thereby positioning the bearing members 68 in vertical alignment with each other for receiving a tubular member 74. The upper end of the tubular member 74 is provided with `a projecting U- shaped member 76 having a shank 78 secured to the tubular member 74 by a `fastening bolt 80.V Swivelly received in the other end of the tubular member 74 is a shank 82 projecting upwardly from a U-shaped yoke 84. The yoke 84 is provided with an upstanding boss 86 at the upper end thereof for bearing engagement with the lower end of the bearing sleeve 74. The shank 82 is provided with a projecting lug 88 riding in a slot 90 in the sleeve 74 to limit the pivotal movement or swivel movement of the yoke 84.

The lower ends of the yoke 84 are provided with cylindrical bearing sleeves 92 rotatably journaling an axle 94 therein which has a supporting and guiding wheel 96 secured thereto. The axle 94 is provided with offset elongated end portions 98 having foot pedals 100 on the outer ends thereof. By rotation of the axle 94, the wheel 96 will be rotated, thereby propelling the entire hobby horse. Also, by selective pressures on the foot pedals 100, the wheel 96 may be pivoted about the vertical axis formed by the shank 82 and limited by the pin 88 in the slot for guiding the movement of the hobby horse 10.

Pivotally and slidably positioned over the offset end portion at each end of the axle 94 is a tubular sleeve 102. Projecting upwardly from the tubular sleeve 102 is a bearing pin 104 journaled in a socket 106 in the bottom end of a pair of front leg members 108 whereby the front leg members 108 may swivel in relation to the sleeve 102 and the sleeve 102 may Slide along the length of the offset portions 98 to permit pivotal movement of the axle 94 and the wheels 96 mounted thereon. The upper end of each of the leg members 108 is provided with a fastening bolt 110 extending through an elongated slot 112 in the longitudinal members 24 and provided with a headed end portion on the inner end, as designated by the numeral 114, whereby the upper ends of the leg members 108 may reciprocate and pivot due to the action of the offset ends 98 of the axle 94.

In operation of the device, a child is positioned on the saddle or seat 14 and by operation of the pedals 100 substantially in the nature of a tricycle, the hobby horse may be propelled over a supporting surface. As the hobby horse moves, the forward leg members E03 as well as the rear leg members 54 move due to the eccentric relation of the outer ends of the forward and rear axles, thereby simulating the actual movement of the legs of a horse. The device is steered by exerting pressures on selective pedals l() for swiveling the wheel 96 about a vertical axis within certain limits, as set forth.

The entire device may be coated with a suitable plastic,

leather, fabric or any other suitable material which is colored or decorated in any desirable manner, thereby closely simulating a horse in action and in appearance.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A hobby horse comprising an elongated wheeled body, means for propelling and guiding said body, a seat on said body, said body being shaped to simulate a horse, and movable members simulating legs adjacent each end of said body, said members simulating the movement of the legs of a horse, said propelling and guiding means including a depending yoke swivelly attached to said body, a single wheel mounted in said yoke, an axle extending through said wheel and yoke and terminating in otfset end portions, foot pedals on said end portions whereby said axle and wheel may be rotated for propelling said body and pivoted for guiding the same, said body having a rear depending bracket, a rear axle rotatably secured thereto, a pair of ground engaging wheels mounted on said rear axle for supporting the rear end of said body, each of said movable members including a strap pivotally attached at its lower end to each offset end portion of each axle, the upper end of each strap being pivotally and slidably connected to said body for simulating the action of the legs of a horse, the lower ends of the front movable members being slidably and pivotally mounted on said offset end portions for permitting swinging movement of said axle thereby permitting steering control of the body.

2. A hobby horse comprising an elongated body generally simulating an animal in appearance, said body having a seat disposed thereon, a depending support bracket at each end of said body, an axle rotatably supported at the lower end of each support bracket, each axle having offset end portions, a plurality of simulated leg members, each leg member having a lower end journaled on said end portions of the axles, the upper end of each leg member being pivotally and vertically slidably attached to said body for simulating the movement of the legs of an animal, wheel means ixedly mounted on each axle between the end portions for engagement with a supporting surface whereby movement of the wheel means will cause movement of the leg members, the front support bracket having a swivel yoke at the lower end thereof for mounting the front axle on the bracket, the lower ends of the forward leg members being slidably and swivelly attached to the offset end portions of the front axle for permitting steering of the front wheel means for controlling the direction of movement of the body.

3. A hobby horse comprising an elongated body generally simulating an animal in appearance, said body having a seat disposed thereon, a depending support bracket at each end of said body, an axle rotatably supported at the lower end of each support bracket, each axle having offset end portions, a plurality of simulated leg members, each leg member having a lower end journaled on said end portions of the axles, the upper end of each leg member being pivotally and vertically slidably attached to said body for simulating the movement of the legs of an animal, wheel means xedly mounted on each axle between the end portions for engagement with a supporting surface whereby movement of the wheel means will cause movement of the leg members, the front support bracket having a swivel yoke at the lower end thereof for mounting the front axle on the bracket, the lower ends of the forward leg members being slidably and swivelly attached to the offset end portions of the front axle for permitting steering of the front wheel means for controlling the direction of movement of the body, the offset end portions of the front axle having foot pedals thereon for propelling the body, the foot pedals also providing areas Vfor exerting pressure for swivelling the yoke about a generally vertical axis thereby pivoting the front Wheel means for steering the body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 325,408 Heilman et al. Sept. l, 1885 1,342,720 Scanlan June 8, 1920 1,545,326 Higgins July 7, 1925 2,617,658 James Nov. l1, 1952 

